Artic Monkeys' lead singer Alex Turner was underwhelmed by his band's victory.

"We did the triple, but in all honesty, I suppose we're supposed to display some gratitude," he said as he collected the best British band prize.

US hip hop artist Kanye West was named best solo artist

"We are grateful because, you know, voted for by the people and all that, we're very happy about that but who else was going to be the best British band at the moment, you know?"

Franz Ferdinand beat Arctic Monkeys to claim the best live band award. Oasis won the best video award for The Importance of Being Idle, which starred actor Rhys Ifans.

Former Stone Roses front man Ian Brown was honoured with Godlike Genius award presented by footballer Teddy Sheringham after Brown said he would only accept the award from a member of Manchester United's 1999 treble-winning squad.

Babyshambles singer Pete Doherty was named sexiest man by NME readers, and gave a surprise performance of Down in Albion at the event. Madonna was named sexiest woman.

Yes, Kaiser Chiefs did well at the Brits, but the NME Awards are always a year ahead of the Brits

Conor McNicholasNME editor

In contrast to his success at the Brit Awards, James Blunt took home a worst album award for Back to Bedlam

'Greatest artists'

Bob Geldof was furious that the Carling Weekend's Reading and Leeds music festivals were named best event rather than his own Live8 concerts.

"I can't accept that the Carling Weekend won best event when it was up against nine simultaneous events around the world with the greatest artists in the world," he said.

The Live8 concerts took the best music DVD prize, however.

The ceremony was held at the Hammersmith Palais.

Kaiser Chiefs had a record six nominations but won only one award

At one stage The Cribs' lead singer Gary Jarman dived head first into a table, shattering champagne bottles.

NME editor Conor McNicholas said of big winners the Arctic Monkeys: "This time last year no-one had ever heard of them.

"To go from that to the biggest band in Britain and win three awards is pretty special. Everyone talks about them making it big because of the internet but there's a lot of fine music on the internet.

"The great thing about the Arctic Monkeys is they are doing something nobody else has done. They have a depth to their lyrics that no-one else has."

Better from the north

He said of the Kaiser Chiefs' disappointing awards tally: "If it wasn't for the Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs would have done a lot better.

Music tends to be better when it springs from boredom

Pulp's Jarvis Cocker, discussing fellow Sheffield band Arctic Monkeys

"Yes, Kaiser Chiefs did well at the Brits, but the NME Awards are always a year ahead of the Brits."

The Arctic Monkeys' success follows that of fellow Sheffield bands such as Pulp and The Human League.

After the ceremony Pulp singer Jarvis Cocker said: "I do think better music comes from the north.

"In London there's too much around you all the time so, basically, music tends to be better when it springs from boredom."